SUMU CHILDREN TRUST THE CHERRY BRRLEy CHILDREN'S HOME, REGISTERED CHATy NUMBER 1091477 Report for the ear endin st i December 202
2024 REPORT PA 2 IQSUMU CHILDREN TRUST Reference andAd7ninistratiue Information Address for Correspondence Dr Peter Brierley, Ib, Thorpe Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TNIO 4PW Registered Charity Number 1091477 Governing Document Trust Deed dated 25 February 2002, as amended by resolution dated 12 March 2011, and as amended by resolution dated 19, May 2018 Trustees Dr Peter Brierley (Acting Chair and PTevious treasurer ) GTaham Collison (resigned 20 June 2024) Michael Dare {retired October 2024) Eric Deeben (resigned 2 November 2024) Samara Ead {resigned 26 February 2024) Ivo de Freitas (resignedi4 Septetnber 2024) Kathryn de Freitas (resigned 14 September 2024) Jonathan Goodes (from 19 January 2025" present treasurer) Alan Hewerdine (from 20 May 20¥) Steve Roderick (Vice-chair) Graeme Shaw (from 13 January 2025) Tim SiEnpson {resigned 20 November 2024) Principal Banker CAF Bank Ltd., 25, Kings Hill Avenu4 Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent MEI9 4JQ Patrons Rt Rev Michael Hill. former Bishop of Bristol Mgr Michael Nazir-Ali, forn]er Bishop of Rochester Ram Gidoomal, CBE, Entrepreneur and Businessman Independent Examiner Andrew Sim]nonds FCA Contents Page 2 Reference and Administrative Information Pages 3- Trustee Report for 2024
2024 REPORT PAGE 3 KUMU CHJtJ)REN TRUST Trustee Reportfor the Year ending 31" December 2024 The Trustees of the Kisumu Children Trust [KCT] are pleased to present their report for the year ending 31" December 2024. Objeets The chief objects ofthe charity, as giveuinourcharitycommission authorisation of28 March 2002, are: To help relieve and alleviate povetyby developingsuitable facilitiesfor children living in Kisumu, Kenya, To advance the Christian religion and To promote and advance education and training. It has undertaken these primarily by providing through voluntary giving all the necessary costs for looking after 90 sponsored children fornierly part of a residential orphanage in Tieng're, Kenya (a small village some 7 miles west of Kisumu), supporting local care-givers, and supporting some of the impoverished children in the local Tieng're and Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive Schools. UK Governance The Board of Trustees had nine members at the start of 2024 and five members in January 2025 (one having reached the limit of his tenure, six resigning and three joining). The five included the Acting Chair, Vice-chair, Treasurer and two other Trustees. Together they were responsible for organisational maintenance, largely through three part-time self-ernployed Staff members. The following responsibilities are undertaken: Regular meetings of the Trustees in the UK nine in 2024, eight of which by Zoom. starting.of regular"Team" meetings, three held in 2024, of up to five members of the Kisumu Leadership Tearn, all Staff members and Chair, all by ZooTn. Recording of income and expenditure using the Donor Perfect programmes. Correspondence with supporters and sponsors either individually or collectively through our quarterly llewsletter Kisumu News, through Lynn Allen, Bookkeeper and Administrator. Liaison with the work in Kisumu through the Home's Manager, Philemon Oguna, mostly through Trustee Michael Dare. Liaising with the local Tieng're Community, including the Tieng're School, mostly through reports from our CBCH Social Worker, Pamela Akoth. who started work on i January 2023 which was continued throughout 2024. Overseeing the co-ordination of all the schooling of sponsored and supported children, primarily undertakenby Kenyan Assistant Manager Manase Oukoh. Co-ordinating the work of the UK Staff Team in bookkeeping, financial mallagement and sponsorship support (Lynn Allen, as above), social tnedia and newsletter compiler (Aneta Dabek, Media Officer) and contacting Grant Making Trusts (GMTS) seeking financial support for projects (Alan Hewerdine, Support Officer). Peter Brierleywas appointedTreasurerbytheTrustees in 2017, and renewed in 2020, but has passed this responsibility now to Jonathan Goodes, a new Trustee. The Trustees did not attend exhibitions or events where the work of the Trust could be displayed (like the c11Stian Resources, Exhibition) in 2024 but did take various speaking engagements, and promotion of individual sponsorships in person for the children in OUT G4re, and fund-raising, including through GMTS and social media. A public Allnual Meeting was held on 12 th October 2024 in St Luke's Church, Warford.
2024 REFfMir PAGE4 Kenyon gouernanee The local management of the Cherry Brierley Cbildren's Home [CBCH] in Kisumu, Kenya, is undertaken by: Manager, Rev Philemon Oguna, an Ang]ican minister, and his tearn, consisting of: Assistant Manager (Manase Ouma Oukoh, appointed in 2015), Matron (Winnie Olango, appointed as Assistant Matron in January 2018, and promoted to Matron in Deeember 2022), PeterNyidha (appointed in 2015 as Facilities, Co-ordinator, overseeing self-sufficiency developments such as the poly-tunnel and other vegetable growing, both for Home and local consumption, now Operations Officer). Social Worker Pamela Akoth (appointed as Matron to CBCH in January 2015, but appointed as Social Worker in December 2022, see bdow) This partially resident management team of five people meet each week under Philemon's leadership, and now meetings with UK staff members each month by Zoom. One Guard was made redundant in 2024 and the other died suddenly in 2025, but now replaced. Those remaining in 2024were: DorisAchiengSewe (Cook), Domniek Ong'onga (Assistant Cook), Calvin Otieno Osako (Woodcutter). George Ndon'ga (the now deceased Guard) and Silas Ochieng Ago (Groundsllwi). CBCH has been the major component of Kisumu Children Ministries (KCM) which is a recognised non-profit organisation in Kenya (Registration Certificate Number 1340616) and has a Board of 8 Kenyan Trustees. These are the Chair. Jo-an Olachi (Children's Officer in Kisii, a neighbouring county), Simon Osege (the Chief of the Area), Ajice Aoko Omollo (Headmistress of Tieng're Comprehensive School, iyho retired as Headmistress in October 2024 but remains a Trustee), Pauline Ochingo (wife of a local business man), and Rev Bethwell Rogo (local Anglican minister). They ty to lneet four times a year. Kenyan governance is wider than the KCM Board. The West Kisumu Children's Department has responsibilityforthe care ofchildren inits catchment areawhich includes the CBCH Home. Their Social Department exercises similar responsibility and the local Chief undertakes admillistrative authority induding registrar, judge and other civic responsibilities. In December 2022 both these authorities plus the Headmistress (for the local Education Officer) agreed to the appointment of a CBCH Social Worker for the District for an initial five-year period. The sa]ary and support expenses would be paid by KCT (who had a Restricted Fund specifically for such a purpose given to us by a Grant Making Trust). Pamela Akoth) previously Matron of CBCH, was appointed. The Kenyan Government Covid restrictions finally eeased in April 2023, SO 2024 was free of the requirements initiated under this programme. Aetivities started by the Home during the Covid period, such as feeding loo impoverished local children a lunch six days a week has continued and in April 2024 was increased to 150 lunches per day. Kenyan Education System The Kenyan education system started originally for children at age 6 who attended Primary School until 14 when they took the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. This was marked out of 500, andthose obtaining a mark of 260 or over were then allotted a Secondary School, most of them single-sex boarding schools. These were attended until they were 18, when they took their Kellyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination which was rnarked on a seale from A to E. Those getting B+ or an Awere e]igible for University with a government grallt for their tuition (but not their accommodation}. The Kellyan Government in 2023 ehanged the middle years of this sequence from an 8 to 4 years system into a 6-3-3 system, making it similar to the system we have in England. From i" January 2023 children aged 6 to 12 would go to Primary School, then from 13 to to a Junior
2024REK>RT PAGE5 Secondary School and from 15 to 18 to a Senior Secondary School. The possibility of starting school before 6, Pre-school, and going to College or other tertiary educAtion post-18 was unaltered. The KCPE exam was anCelled, and last taken in November 2023. Primary School tuition is largely free in Kenya (pupils needing to pay a small school levy each year and have a school uniform) whereas Secondary Education, especially if boarding, has to be paid for, and is almost prohibitively expensive for poorer parents. Most Primary Schools (used to having some children of 13 and 14) were now expected to cater for all 13, 14 and 15 year olds (no extra funds being made available for having an extra classroom or two), and those in Junior Secondary Sthool would be expected to pay for their tuition. Many existing Primary Schools became Comprehensive Schools overnight (= previous Primary + new Junior Secondary) ! Existing Secondary Schools, now with only three years of fees instead of four, would still be expected to function as before, though inevitably their fees would increase. The Government saved by not having to pay now for schooling for children aged 13 and 14. This all took place in 2023 when children were recovering from the stresses of a 4-terni year in 20212nd 2022 (catching up on the Covid restrictions of 2020). How did the change affect the 84 children CBCH now supported and sponsored? The 104 we had at the start of Covid had dwindled as some hadleft education to start looking for a job. (The KCTTrust has nowagreed to add io more community children to increase this number). Children of 15, who in future would be at Junior Secondary School, stayed on at their Senior Secondary, which therefore had 4 age years of children for one more year. All our KCM supported children remained supported. The relative costs of these types of school (as used in our budget process) is complicated, and provided by Manase at CBCH. Numbers being supported in 2024 by type of school were as follows, taking £1 - 165 KES, the average exchange Tate we had in 2024: i) Early learning Grades 1-5 [formerlyPprimary School], 9 pupils @ £77 each, 2) Early Learning Grade 6 [fornierly Primary School], 5 pupils @ £84 each 3) Junior Secondary School (Grades 7 to 9), 23 pupils @ £337 each 4) We had no children in the old Secondary School system this year 5) Day Secondary School, ages 15 to 18, 3 pupils @ £545 each 6) Boarding Senior Secondary School [formerly Secondary School], 18 pupils @ £849 each 7) Vocational training [2 year certificate course], io pupils @ £758 each, 8) College/Tertiary training [3 year diploma course], 7 pupi]s @ £879 each 9) University [4 year degree course], 5 pupils @ £2,545 each. io) In addition there were io pupils in a waiting period, as subsequent post-secondary training is advised by the government. This is abreakdown of our 90 sponsored children towhom we are committed. Total cost ofthe above is £52,239. Alternative Family Care (AFC) During 2021 and 2022 the Kenyan GovernEnent took oll board the UN-inspired Alternative Family Care programme, which required all children to live in the homes of their parents, relatives or other care-givers. This required all chfldrenlivingin Children's Homes tobe sentbacktowhatsoever kin they had. To all involved orphans, single mothers and other impoverished relatives this could (and did) cause very real hardship; these chitdren often had to return to an aged grandparellt as their guardian, or find living space with uncles, cousins, etc. who could not easily accommodate, feed and support them along with their own family. It caused many problems forourchildren in the Cherry Brierley Children's Homewhich atthe time had 55 primary-aged children all attending thelocalTieng're Primaryschool. Their opportunity to develop socially and spiritually thus severely impaired, as M'ell as the quality of care sueh as food audfacilities (including electriclight at night to do homework). Additionally, for 17 their change of location required 2 change of school. A]1 those who were in CBCH have continued in our care, in their changed environment, especially with respect to education fees and associated expells, and did so throughout 2024.
2024 REK)RT PAGE 6 Some of our supporters felt the authorities should be approached because of the hardship suffered by many of the children affected by AFC, and at one stage it was hoped that a protest might be made to the Kenyan Government, from withill Kenya itself, but in a meeting of Kenya's senior church leaders in April 2024 they supported "the phasing out of residential homes.", This means that it will be extremely unlikely that CBCH ivill be able to return to a fully residential home as it used to be, and new child-centred uses for the existing buildings have been and are being considered. Social Worker The appointment of a CBCH Social Workerwas explained in lastyear's Report, and she has continued her exemplary work in 2024. In particular this has meant: i) Facilitating the partnership between home, school, and the wider local community by support, liaison, activities and negotiation, and seeking successful resolutions when differences arise. 2) Encouraging the development of life skills acro&s all areas of lrfe with children and their relatives and families, and maintaining records of visits made and actions undertaken largely through regular meetillgs of care-givers when 20 to 30 care-givers decide to meet together for mutual support. Three such gatherings have been set up and (in 2025) one obtainedlocal governmentcertified approval, allowillgthem to open abank account for their group savings. 3) Working with children supported by KCM and those who attend the Tieng're Comprehensive Sehool (where Pamela teaches Scripture on a given syllabus every Fridaymorning) andthe Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School which has a Catholic background. While Pamela sends regular reports to the UKTrustees, who arewelcome to make suggestions or ask questions about her work, her SpOnsIbl]ity is to the local Kenyan authorities. She reports to the Kisumu West Children's Officer, a lady called Bilha, every fortnight to discuss cases, as well as to Rev Philemon Oguna, CBCH Manager. In particular in 2024: She bas accessed lirnited emergency fall¢la1 relief where such is essential for the maintenance of family ]ife. She has helped, with the Manager, to organise and participated in two residential Bible Camps (as they are called), attended byan average of 130 to 150 children, mostly local, who are also taught some lrfe skills as well as Christian teaching. Chlldren are aged 6 to 18. She also helped, with the Manager, to organise some rr training, a three-week course for 8 teenagers, expe]]ses covered by KCT, and undertaken by a qualified Kenyan official from Kisum She has a particular concern for disabled children, and supports and encourages their care-givers as much as she can, arranging forone suchchild (paralysedbymeningitis) to spend time in CBCH to help his social awareness (which he loved). While the CBCH staff miss verymuch workingcloselywith 70 vulnerable residential children, they are now able to help a much wider needy group in the local con]munity, feeding and counselling children, supporting and advising care-givers in a multitude of ways, and linkingboth child and care- giver readily with the appropriate local Kisumu West authority where available. Many testify to the value of the help they have received. ') Church rimes. 3 May 2024, Page ii. BishopJohnes Ole Meliyio, Kenya Evallgelical Lutheran Church said Wiat homas providing support should be debated further."
2024 RERT PAGE7 Sponsorships At the end of 2024 KCT was responsible for financing and supporting 90 children ]iving in or near Kisumu, Kenya. Some have now moved from education into employment or the search for it, and are now no longer under our cAre, though we have kept in touch with as many as we can. This includes the further io very poor local community children which we added in 2024. What were the advantages for them? The main protnise was financial - to promise to undertake paying for all their education as far as they were able to progress, including university and accommodation (and pocket money) if they read]ed that far. They were also given money for clothing and shoes, medica] help rf needed, opportunities for gathering together (for example, the Christmas Bible Camp also open to others and very popular), spiritual counsel, and advi and help in deciding upon a career with some &IstanCe when searching for employment. Many of these children also come for a free nutritious lunch every day. All io were affirmed as being in extreme poverty by the relevant authorities. The care-givers for many of these are those attending Pamela's Care-givers Groups. KCT is very fortunate in having a number of people who kindly give money evey month to cover the cost of sponsoring one (or more) of these children. We are happy to re]ve any amount according to what the donor can give, suggesting £20 or £25 monthly as a norni. In 2024 sorne were able to give but less than £20, while others could give more than £25, a few giving £100 or llLore In additioTL others who are not sponsoring a child give regularly for general purposes to the work we undertake. Mostly this is also monthly, but a few give annually. The average amount given in 2024 by those giving monthly, sponsorship or general, was £32 per month. Use ofthe CBCH buildzngs in Kisumu The Children's Home still looks after a few children full-time who are recognised as requiring emergency accommodation by the Kisumu Children's Department, who are deemed to be "lost" or who have perhaps run-awayfrom llearby Uganda. As mentioned above, CBCH facilities {which were repainted and gÉven new paving in 2024) are also used for regular meetings ]ike those for Family Relationships, Care-givers meetings and other groups. The large dining room, which call accotnmodate 80-ioo people with ease. is also used by the communityfrom time to time. We aim to increase such actiwties to indude having more residential events, so in 2025 we will have three residential Bible Camps which enables some of our older supported ehildren living too far away for daily travel to come back for a week, further rr training events, and so on. The hall is also used for training people wanting to start miero-businesses and in other ways. DROCS Classroon The Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School (DROCS) is about one mile to the east of CBCH. Before the present buildings of CBCH were erected in 2007, CBCH was located in a condemned building at thebottom o'f a field in the Korando District of Kisumu. In the field adjantt0 OUTS Stood the DROPS (as it then was, P - Primary) School which all our primary aged cbildren (then 6 to 14) attended. When we moved in 2007, most moved school as well. So we have a history ofworl<ing with DROPS and knew the former loca] headmaster, Gregory Ogony) very well. Dr Robert Ouko was once the Foreign Minister of Kenya but was assassinated in February 1990. The original sd]ool was a liThe of classrooms with the headmaster's office at one end. In time further classrooms were added as pupil numbers increased. but no maintenanee was undertaken of the original block. By 2022, it was in a very dangerous state, so that in April 2023 the local Kisumu Council officially demolished the classrooms, leaving just the Head's office at the end. Replacement classrooms were clearly needed; could CBCH help as theyhadwhell theybuilt new classrooms for the Tieng're Comprehensive School? The same architect, George Otiendo. who had built the Tieng're
2024 REH)RT PAGE 8 classrooms, was asked for a quote for the of building something similar for DROCS and quoted £70,200 (Mas. 2022). In the UK, funding was sought by the Kcf Support Officer, Alan Hewerdine, and the Lewin Trust promised to provide half the estimated cost, so long as took legal . responsibilityfor providingthe remaining costs, even rfthey exceeded half the amount quoted. By November 2023 the costs had increased, by 15%, but at the same time the exchange rate had fallen, so that despite this increase the actual cost in sterling terms was io% cheaper at £63.0001 At their meeting on 2 December 2023, the Kcf ThteeS agreed to fund the building of the three classrooms, which, as the photo shows, were large, wellventilated, with lights anda eeilingto mitigate the heating from the corrugated iron roofs. Unknownto Ka furthermeetingwas heldwith the Dew Headmaster of DROCS, Mark Otieno, and some alterations to the design were made, concluding joining the building to an existing block of classrooms, costing an extra £7,000. We had legally agreed with the IEwin Trust to pay any extra costs ofthe buJding, but at the same time in early 2024 the exchange rate between the UKand Kellya varied very sharply, sawing us £7,000 in the transmi&sion of the necessaryfunds to Kenya. The Ikwin Trust money was received by Kcf all in 2024. The end result was that the total cost to was £70,200, exactly as originallyquoted! Two of ourTrustees were unhappy with this, feeling we should not pay the extra cost, not appreciating we had signed a legal agreement to do so, and resigned. The Headmaster, however, was delighted, as the extra llloney had enabled the architect to include an extra classroom to make 4 new classrooms rather than the original three + new administration block. The extra classroom, attached to a building already at the school, which rnade it rather dark, was instantly used as the dassroomforteaching technologywherethe darkness allowed the screens to be more easily seen. The conclusion of the building project was on 15 May 2024 when the new rooms were formally dedicated to the glory of God, and their actual use began a short while later. Disabled Children The origin of our work in this area was described in the 2023 Allllual Report. It also deseribes the origin of the initial Survey Report, which showed the enornious need in Kisumu to help disabled (or differently-abled people, as Kenyans prefer to call them) people. The Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics had published a Report emanating from the results of the Kenyan 2019 Population Census which became available in 2024. Consequentlya further aualysis of this data was made early in 2024 and is available from KCT should it be required. The Kenyan Government had asked their entire population if they had a disability, and, ifso, whether itwas (a) Visual, (b) Hearing, (c) Mobility. (d) Cognitive, (e) Communication or (O Self-care. They then asked for the degree of disabllity for each of these that they might cause someone, dividing their answers into: (a) Not relevant to them, (b) Causes some difficulty, (c) Causes major difficulty and (d) Causes total disability. The Government Report broke this information down by gender, age and county {there are 51 in Kenya, of which Kisumu is one). The results showed that poor vison was the worst disability in Kenya and that Kisumu County was one of the top 6 with its occurrence.
2024 REN)RT PAGE 9 Proportion ofpopulation in Kisumu children (5 to 18) with disability, by sex and level of disability Disability Level Sex Visual Mobility Cog- nition % Hearing Comm- Self-care unication % TOTAL Boy io Moderate Girl Boy Girl 13 Severe io TOTAL 20 15 14 19 16 loo The Table shows that almost four-fifths, 77%, of Kisumu children haire some kind of moderate disability, and of all children vision is the worst- a fifth of all, 20Yo. Communication was also a major problem, also a fifth of all children, 19%. During the visit of some UK Trustees in 2024, the matter was taken for discussion with the Strategic Development Team of the Kisumu Council, who wanted more verification of the survey findings which has now been provided. The above Table was not part of the discussion as the National Statistics were not then analysed. This interaction needs to be continued and it is hoped it will be in the 2025 Visit. One result of the discussion was to ask the Council's professional physiotherapist , a helpful man called Isaac Otieno, for forward planning suggestions. He proiryded subsequently two proposals. One of these was to suggest that intensive physiotherapy should be provided for one very disabled child, Boaz, the brother of one of our supported children, unable to walk or talk as a result of meningitis, which was followed through andbegan inlate 2024, With obvious improvementtothelad. It was completed in 2025, and would need more funds to continue. Another result M'as a wider proposal of how the Kisumu Council could be asked about these concerns, and the needs could be followed through within the Council. These also required additional funding which the Kcf Trustees felt unable to provide. It M'ould also need to be modified in the light of the findings in the second Report published after the visit and after Isaac's second proposal was made. One result of this analysis, however, took place in 2025 when all the 147 children at the April Bible Camp had their eyes tested, 50 requiring drops, and 12 needing glasses (+ 3 Staff members).. Micro-Business start-ups One important development which began in 2022 has OiTerfloM'ed into later years. During her visit to Kisumu in May 2022, Suzanne Hodnett, then KCT'S Media Officer, had several conversations with Jo-an Olachi, the newly eleeted Chair of the Kisumu Children Ministries Board, who agreed to lead a course over 5 weeks for those seriously interested in starting a small business. Suzanne provided some of the teaching nterial as she herself teaches this in the U Seventeen people (15 women and two men) attended the first course at CBCH in January/ February 2023" by its end, all had written a workable business plan with aims, objects, how the work would be organised, where located, cost of starting, finan needed, potential profits, etc. Three of these were chosen and funds were provided for buying initial stock and making a stand on which to sell it. In an assessment of progress in 2024, one had been brilliantly successful with by then a small workingbusiness which sold a multiple of different products and whose funds helped, she said, to pay for food and the education of her children, as well providing needed money for necessary dwelling maintenance. She recommended (in 2024) others doing what she had done! A second had started but not done so well, and third failed completely.
2024 REPORT PAGE 10 In 2024 five more potential micro-businesses from the list were chosen, and the necessary start-up Thas sent. These had more mentoring than the first three, much of it by the Social Worker and the CBCH Operations Officer (Peter Nyidha who had agreed to take the lead of the mentoring group), Assistant Manager and some of the leaders of the Care-givers groups. In other words, more of the local community were wanting such busin&ss&s to be started and were willing to try and rnake them successful. The costs are relativdy small - the cost of providing the initial funding for all 5 selected was just under £700. It was too early at the end of 2024 to know how successful these were but a report early in 2025 showed that all five had actually been started and mentoring was continuing. The assessmentby theAssistant Manager, Manase, said itlooked as if all would succeed, but the visit in 2025 will be needed to make a futher assessmenL Whetherthereshould be afurthertraining course is underconsideration, with those who had started a micro-business telling of their experience as part of the course. A new kitehenfor TIas In one of the conversations withthe Headmistr&ss, AllAOk0, ofTieng're Comprehensive School she drew attention to the problem the school had of providing lunch for many of their pupils, since most did not bring anything with them and none wouldbe provided if theywent home. The school had an open-air kitchen but no dining room. The actual cooking was especially difficult rf it was raining. "Could a new kitchen be PTovided?"Alice asked. The Kcf Trustees felt they should not allow any funds for such a project other than that already received from KCT supporters for this purpose, which hadbeen put in a dedicated Restricted Fund. However, the need for a newkitchen was inc]uded in the June monthly Prayer Letter which is produced and circulated to about 100 supporters who have requested it. One of them subsequently wrote and asked what the cost of a new kitchen might be. This was already known as the Architect, George Otieno, had been asked to assess it. In July 2024 the cost of a new kitchen and dining room was given as £45,400. The Oong-term) supporter who asked, "How much?" then said she would pay the entire bill, promptly sending a cheque for the amount given, with the request that the building be started immediately so that hopefully it could be finished before the next tenn started in September. The Treasurer putthe moneyinto the existing RestrictedFund and immediatelysentthe moneyto Kisumu so that the construction could begin. Two Trustees were against this action, feeling that the money should not have been sent out straight away, and so resigned. They had, however, in the interim, moved house some distance away and would llot havebeen easilyabletophysicallyattend theAnnual Meeting, and this was a factor in their decision. The kitchen was, however, completed, almost on time (the dining room seating came later), and teachers and Head in the School were enormously grateful. Ge?ratOr The Kisumu electricity supply is erratic, sometin]es cuttiug out for a few minutes, other times much longer. In order to protect the new toi]ets at TICS, which require flushing every night with special pumps, a generatorwas installed in July 2024 to protectthe needforelectrieityattimes ofemergency. Thetotal cost of £2,500 was kindlymetbya grantfromthe Carmelaand Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation covering both the generator and special housing for it. It should probably have been included with the construction of the new toilet system in 2022 but had been overlooked. Adminisiration in the UK A number of factors have affected OUT work in 2024: We published fourissues ofKwmuNews for oursupporters, compiled and produced by our Media Officer.
2024 REPORT PAGE I I We appointed a new part-time Media Officer early in the year, Philippa Haslett, who found she was unable to continue for medical reasons. The previous Media Officer Suzanne Hodnett had resigned in 2023 after being offered extra working hours in her main part-tillLe job, Aneta Dabek was subsequently appointed in Phi]ippa's pla. Our Support Officer, A]an Hewerdine, who is paid for his work TAryth KCT by Trust Financial Planning, joined us as a Trustee in April 2024. Two of our Trustees who were working businessmen both felt that the demands of their occupation left too little time for voluntary work with the Kisumu Children Trust, and both resigned. The Kcf Trustees transferred the existing web and email servers to new hosting arrangements and specifically to use our non-profit status with Microsoft. TILey are looking at a webpage refr&sh but are still in the planning phase. The Kcf maintains a presence on three social media platforms. As of 2024, its Facebookpagehad 1,550 followers, reflecting anincrease of approximatelyioo over the year. On X (formerlyTwitter) theTrust had over 780 followers, while its Instagram account currently had 46 followers. In 2024, an article describing the Trust's activities was published ill Parish Pulnp, a pub]ication with a global reach of approximately 250.000 readeTS' another written for Town and Cner, a monthly bulletin for the local Tonbridge area, was included in the September issue, delivered to 28,000 homes. Trustee Michael Dare, one of the LEadership Team, and long-term support for the work of KCT (he was Executive Secretary 2002 to 2010) came to the end of his current term of office, and so retired. We gave him special thanks for his commitrnent, with his wife Kate, at the Annual Meeting in October 2024. Michael Darewas a]soour UK tiaison Officerbetween the UKand Kisumu leadership. His (Zoom) meetings with the Manager have now been replaced by what we call TEAM meetings between the CBCH Leadership Team and the UK Staff Team {+ Chair). In 2024 three such meetings were held, with the intention of continuing them at monthly intervals in 2025. While we had no Trustees, meetingwithout atleastthreeTrustees present, as required by our Artides, we did lookforfurther Trustees, and two havebeen appointed, one in December 2024, Jonathan Goodes who came in as Treasurer in place of Peter Brierley, and Graeme Shaw who actually joined in January 2025. A monthly Prayer Letter, written by ex-Trustee Cherry Brierley, was typed and circulated to about loo supporters by our Administrator.. Asummary of our income and expenditure was made every month and distributed to all Trustees and Staff with commentary as needed by the Treasurer. A three-year budget was constructed, and discussed and agreed at the Trustees, meeting in November, prepared by the Treasurer.. In 2023 the Lewin Trust very kindly promised a grant of half the cost of building the DROCS classrooms (at £35,000) which was actually received in two instal- ellts in 2024. Polieies Our list of agreed and adopted policies is as follows, many being reviewed in 2024: Complaints and PrOaureS (10/18, 1124); Appointment of New Trustees (oi/ii, 10118, 10/21, to be reviewed in 2026); Employment policy (10118, 1124); Data Breach (11/18. 1/24); Purpose, Mission and Values (11/18, 1/24). Emergency Reserves (11118, 7124); Privacy (1119, 7/24)" Grievance (7119, 7124)" Photography (11119, 7/24). IT and Data Rights Kcf (02/20, 9/24); Safeguarding and Chi]d Protection, which indudes a Visitor's Policy.(3121, to be reviewed in 2026). 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) io) ii)
2024 REFY)RT PAGE 12 We have sent our sister charity in Kenya. Kisumu Children Ministries, eopi&s of policies (io) and (li) written for their circumstances which they have adopted. KCT Viability Our discussions on K viability have meant greater attention given to our financial liabilities in the light of the prOgrae of community support in which we are engaging, as we]1 as continuing our support work with the 90 sponsored children, and in addition to extending help to more impoverished children in the communitythrough our dailylunch programme. Akey paper on long- term finance to this end was described in the 2020 Annual Report, which continued to be used in 2024. We ended the year with a General Fund of £50.000 (£71.000 in 2023) outside our Restricted and Designated funds and Emergency Reserve. Some of this is being spent on further projects in 2025. The Trustees do notbelieve there should be any current uncertainty overthe charity as a viable concern ill God's hands. Future prospects for 2025 and beyond will naturally include continuing the relationship with Tieng're and Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive Schools and otherlocal schools largely through the work of our CBCH Social Worker. Our expanding community involvement will continue in order to help children, physically, spiritually and educationally. Discussions on our CBCH Manager's fllre leadership andcontinuedinvolvementwith CBCH have alreadybeen undertaken (Philemon iswilling to continue servillg as Manager until he reaches retirement age in 2028). Each KCT Trustee is expected to share the responsibility of ongoing regular funding of the charitywhich remains one of our keypriorities, but alsowe wish to consider what the future mayhold in a rapidly changing world-wide situation, and the implementation of the Kenyan Alternative Family Care programme. Our desire to help extremely poor, hungry and needy children in Kisumu has not lessened, and we trust God to lead us into increasingly effective paths of service to deprived poverty-stricken children in the Kisumu area. Public Benefit The review of activities above details the work of Kcfin Kenya. In additioll, assistance is given to the poorest families, and we have provided water, vegetables and rneals to the communiws children as required and as we are able. The activefree lunch programme for the neediest children in our locality in Kisumu is welcomed by over 150 every day. The Trustees consider that they have complied with their public bellefit requirements under the Charities Act of 2011. As described above we have continued our support of the large Tien¥re Comprehensive School near the CBCH Home, and now also the Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School aiming specifically to help, over time, several hundred of their poorest pupils, alleviating their poverty and advancing their education. Investment and Resenyes Policy TheTrustees have consideredthe mostappropriate policyforinvestingfunds andsurplus fundswhen available are invested on the best terms at the appropriate time. It is the policy of the Trust to maxin]ise fullythe use of unrestricted and un-designated funds to help as many children as possible. Sufficientfunds are held in the UK(£45,000 in 2024 as in 2023) as our emergency reserves in case of major shortfall in income, unexpected death or incapacity of majorpersonnel in the UK or Kenya, or otheruntoward circumstance" the ErnergencyReserves Policy was re-written and updated in 2024 and is reviewed regularly. However, it is recognised that extreme emergency situations may nece&sitate spending more than suggested in this policy.
2024 REPORT PACK. 13 Risk Management The Trustees acknowledge the major risks which the charityfaces, in particular the adverse economic and uncertain political factors within Kenya, the ehanging Kenyan Government concerns about children and their living conditions and future education as expressed in 2019, and outworked in 2021, 2022 and 2023 in particular, as well as the changing, decreasing, Christian situation in the UK. They consider that with regular TnLStee meetings, Leadership Team meetings, and, when possible, essential Trustee visits to the Home, regular communications and reports received from Kenya, Trustees are well positioned to take the best possible steps both to mitigate against risk and respond to unforeseen matters that may arise. Theimpact of the warin Ul(raine since 2022 has seen a general rise in food prices in Kenya and the general cost of living, though it has greatlyincreased the hardship of impoverished families in the Kisumu area. The Kenyan political situation has not affected KCT gready, apartfrom the general cost of caring for the education and the feeding of the many children under our care. We are no longer fi]nding a fully residential home living with its associated costs. Some of the costs to KCT were also reduced in 2024 by an increasing rate of exchange between the Kenyan shilling and the UK pound. Trustee Responsibilities Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts of financial activities in the period and in preparing these accounts they are required to: Select accounting policies and apply them consistently Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and PTudent State whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the appropriate Statement of Recommended practi (SORP) on Accounting by Charities and with applicableAccounting Standards, subjectto anymaterial disclosuresindicated and explained in the accounts, and Prepare the accounts as a going-concern unle&8 it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continu The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonabIe accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to ensure that such accounts andrecordscotllplywith applicableAccountingStandards, the Statements of Recommended Practice, the Regulations made under é M5 (5) 0)) of the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approval This Report was approved by the Trustees at their meeting, by Zoom, on 23 May 2025 and is signed o their behalf by= Dr Peter Brierley, Chair [6,700 words]
SUMU CHILDREN TRUST THE CHERRY BRRLEy CHILDREN'S HOME, SUMU, KENYA REGISTERED CHATy NUMBER 1091477 Accounts 2024 for the ear endin I" December 202
2024 AccouKrs PAGE2 SUMU CHILDREN TRUST Reference andAdministrative Informotion Address foi Correspondence Dr Peter Brierley, Ib, Thorpe Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TNio 4PW Registered Charity Number 1091477 Governing Document Tnt Deed dated 25 February 2002, as amended by resolution dated 12 March 2011, and as amended by resolution dated 19 May 2018 Trustees Dr Peter Brierley (Acting Chair and previous treasurer ) Graham Collisoll (resigned 20 Julle 20¥) Michael Dare (retired 12 October 2024) Eric Deeben (resigned 2. November 2024) Samara EaTI (resigned 26 February 2024) th Ivo de Freitas (Tesigned4 September 2024) Kathryn de Freitas (r£signedi4 September 20¥) Jonathan Goodes (from 19 January 2025" present treasurer) Alan Hewerdine (from 20 May 2024) Steve Roderick Iwice-chair) Graeme Shaw (from 13 January 2025) Tim Simpson (Signed 20 November 2024) Principal Banker CAF Bank Lt, 25, Kings Hill Avenu Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent MEI9 4JQ Patrons Rt Rev Michael Hill, fornier Bishop of Bristol Mgr Michael Nazir-Al4 former Bishop of Rochester Ram Gidoomal. CBE, Entrepreneur and Businessu Independent knminer Andrew Simmonds FCA Page 3 Independent Examiner's Report Page 4 Statement of Financial Activities Pages 6-8 Notes to the Accounts
2024 AccoUr5 PAGE 3 SUMU CHILDREN TRUST Independent Examiner's Report for the Year ending 31", December 2024 To the Trustees of the Kisumu Children Trust, I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31" December 2024 which are set out on Pages 15 to 19. Respective responsibilitiesfor the Trustees and Examiner The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider than an audit is not required for this year (under é 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011) (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: Examine the accounts (under S 145 of the 2011 Act). Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Com15s1OerS (under & 145 (5) 0)) of the 2011 Act; and State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis oflndependent Examiner's Report My examination was carried out in accordan with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual ltell or disclosures ill the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair" view and the report is limited to the matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examiner's Statement In co]mection with my exarnination, no matter has come to me attention: Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material Tespect, the requirements To keep accounting records in accordance with & 130 of the 2011 Act; and To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met: or To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date 025 Andrew Simmonds FCA, Independent Examiner
2024 AccouKrs PAGE 4 SUMU CHKU)REN TRUST Statement ofFinaneialActiuities for the Ye(w ending 31" December 2024 Note Unrestricted Restricted Funds £ Funds £ Total 2024£ Total 2023 £ Income and Endowment From Donations and Legacies Gifts, donations and projects Sponsored gifts Legacies Total 41,765 155,609 197,374 93,595 20,738 20,738 23,745 2,109 2,109 5,000 64,612 155,609 220,221 122,340 FroTn Trading From Investments 733 1,175 3,969 3,969 5,718 TOTAL INCOME AND 69a14 155?609 2249923 129.233 Expended Resources Support ofprojects in Kenya 2, 3,12 81,391 139,408 220,799 118,244 UKsupport costs Total 4,6,9 16,322 16,322 14,507 97,713 139,408 237,121 132,751 | Expenditure on generating Funds TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 11,512 11,512 10,424 1099225 139,408 143?175 Net Incoming Resources Transfers bettveen Funds NET MOVEMENf IN 17UNDS (39,911) 16,201 (23,710) (13,942) (u,325) (14,325) (54,236) 16,201 (38,035) (13,942) 212,611 Funds, 31" December 2023 198,669 FUNDS? 31°, DECEMBER 2024 C+D 90,371 70,263 160)634 198,669 There have been no recogllised gains or losses, other than the results of the financial year and all profits and losses have been accounted for on an historical cost basis. The Notes on Pages 17 to 19 form part of these accounts. 4,607 54,062
2024 REK)RT PAGE 5 SUMU CHllJ)REN TRUST Balance Sheet as at 31°, December 2024 Note 2024 2023 FedA$sets rrentAssets Gift Aid tax recoverdble Prepayments and accrued inconie (347) Cash at bank and on deposit Total 156,204 198,669 160,634 198,669 I Creditors." Amounts falling due within one year Accruals Net Current Assets 160,634 198,669 TOTAL ASSETS io,ii 160,634 198,669 Unrestricted Funds General Funds 39,807 71,454 Emergency Reserve Designated Funds Total 45,000 45,000 5,564 28,153 90,371 IH,607 Restncted Funds 70,263 54,062 TOTAL FUNDS 198,669 Approved by the Trustees ou 9 September 2025 signed on their beha]f by: an Goodes, Treasurer
2024 REFRTPAGE 6 Notes to theAccountsfor the year ended 3f' December 2024 Accounting Policies The accounts have been prepared in sterling ullder the historical convention and in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards, the Charities Act 2011, and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities." The Trustees have considered the charity's day to day cash flow requirements and have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going conrn basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements. b) Voluntaryincome is re]vedbywaY of donations and gifts and is included infull in the Statement of Financial Activities when received. Donations arising under Gift Aid together with the tax recoverable thereon are accounted for when received 2nd provision made for tax unclaimed at the year end. Eypenditure is taken into account for the Accounting Year. d) Tangible fixed assets in Kisumu are registered in the name of the Kenyan Charity. Fixed assets in the UK are depreciated over 3 years. Balances held in Kenya at the year end are not induded in these accounts. Restricted fi]ncls are to be used for specified purposes as laid doivn by the donor. Expenditure which meets certain criteria is identifiedto the relevantfund. Designated funds are unrestricted funds allocated for specific purposes by the Trustees. Unrestricted funds are donations and all other income reIved or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds. The Restricted and Designated fLU]ds are as follows: Movement in Funds.. Restricted Reserves Restricted l Librnry Resen>a8 books/ laptDPS £2,461 £0 Health Children'5 Secondary Education Nutanix JOG. B(Azl Disabled children DROPS Emergeney Food TICS Total IA)ans and Gifts Generator Kitchen Fund At 3111212023 Income £927 £540 £950 £517 £50.834 £20,000 £23,942 £46,892 £2,923 £0 £3,715 .904 £14508 (£4889) £2,729 £4,484 £3,259 £3,954 (£14.270) £75,205 £43,806 £17,129 £4,743 £0 £54)062 £155J609 £139)408 £70,263 £50,476 £50,105 £371 Expenditure At 31//2024 £242 £2,219 £853 £2,070 £4,743 £0 Three new Restricted Funds were started this year - one for building classrooms for the Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School (DROCS); oneforthe EmergencyFood programmewhose residual funds were transferred to our General Fund as money for this purpose was being spent from this Fund, and one for proving a generator and building a new kitchen and dining room for the Tiellre Comprehensive School (TICS). Funds into and out of th&se funds are as shown. Movement in Funds.. Designated Reserues Designated Reserves Social Worker Ernergency Reserves Totsl As at3111212023 Income £28,153 £0 £45,000 £73yX53 £0 Expenditure As at 3111212024 £221589 £5,564 £0 £22>589 £s)s64 £45,000
2024 REPORT PAGE 7 £20,000 was returned to the General Fund from which it had been mistakenly taken on 2021. 4) UKSupport Costs Item 2024 £ 2023 £ 11,648 996 145 Employment costs UK governance aud travel expenses Child risklsafeguarding Other costs and bank charg£s Total 13,104 630 163 2,425 1,718 16,322 149507 Cost of Generating Funds ItellL 2024 £ 6,807 4,705 2023 £ 5,287 Employment costs Promotion and publicity Total 5,137 11,SV2 10,424 Employment costs relate to our Media Officer who began her work (6 hours a week) ill early 2024 and our Support Officer who wrote to Grant Making Trusts in 2024, working for 4 hours a week Our promotion and publicity costs of generating funds inc.ude small payments for the photos tsken by a part-time photographer working for us in Kisumu. 6) Staffand Trustees The charity had no part-time employees in January 2024 (none in 2023). Salary costs irl the year thus were zero (2023 zero). Contract staff in 2024, included the Administrator and Bookkeeper, Support Officer O)oth for 12 months) and the Media Officers (for li months) who were collectively paid £27,487 (£24,931 in 2023 when we were temporarily without a Support Officer). The Chair was re-itnbursed £6 travel in the UK in 2024(£152 in 2023). Trustee Michael Dare was paid £192 for travel in 2023 (£117 in 2023). No other travel expenses were paid to any of the Trustees in 2024. Travel costs were paid to self-employed staff of £183 in 2024 ( £99 in 2023). Volunteers Ivere paid £100 helping in administration (£80 in 2023). If meetings had not been held by Zoom, travel costs in 2024 would have been higher. 7) FixedAssets No tangible fixed assets were purchased in 2024, nor in the previous 4 years. As at 31° December Cost/Brought forward £0 Depreciation during year n/a n/a Net value end year £0 £0 2023 2024 £0 8) Debtors and Prepayments December income paid in January £254. Decernber expenses paid in January (£601}. 9) Gouernonce costs The Independent Examiner is a volunteer.
2024 REK)RT PAGE 8 io) Analysis ofNetAssets between Fwids Item Unrestricted Restricted Funds £ Funds £ Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £ Fixed Assets i Cash at bank and on deposit Other net current assets 85,941 70,263 156,204 198,669 Total 85y941 70,263 6,204 198,669 ii) At the balance sheet date, the Charity had no commitments under operating leases or any Other contractual (other than employment) or constructive obligations. 12) Charitable ACtitieS Itelll Unrestricted Restricted Funds £ Funds £ Total 2024£ 76,084 12,583 16,448 4,600 Total 2023 £ 61,357 10,038 12,458 4,136 School fees 53,162 12,583 16,448 4,600 23.922 Running costs of the Home CBCH Salaries Other direct costs Monitoring visits Property Maintenance Community Feeding ProgramD]e Total 2AOI 2,401 3,290 3,290 18,969 927 18,069 13,356 102?272 1109553 23?922 134>475 School fees were more this year because we had more children in Secondary School as the Kenyan Government instituted its education reform of ll1ng Primary education finish at 12 and Junior Secondary for those children aged 12 to 15 and Senior Secondary for those aged 16 to 18. It alltornatically meantthose whowould havebeen 13 or 14 in 2024were now atJunior Secondaryinstead of Primary, and whereas Primary Education was free Secondary education incurred fees. The running costs of the Home are more than last year because our Comrnunity Feeding Programme is runfromthe Home and included therefore in the Home costs. We increasedthe number served each day from loo to 150 in 2024. Salaries are more than last year as we gave an increase in 41 salary for the first time in five years.. Monitoring visits were re-started in 2024.